African Lullaby

African Lullaby
Watoto Childrens Choir

Who will sing my lullaby?
Who will hold me when I cry?
When I awake and no one's there?
Who will sing my lullaby?

One straw matt
Two sisters, one brother
Our Father is gone
Now we cry for our Mother
Who will protect
And watch through the night
Who will be there
To blow out the light

Who will sing my lullaby?
Who will hold me when I cry?
When I awake and no one's there?
Who will sing my lullaby?

Will you sing me my lullaby?
Will you hold me when I cry?
When I awake will you be there?
Will you sing my lullaby?

WOW! Haunting words. Especially when sung solo by a 10 year old little girl who's lost both her parents because of HIV, then backed up by more children from the same fate.

I was just listening to the CD I bought the other night, and this song has reduced me to tears, just hearing the choir sing that song sends such passion to my heart for the children of Uganda and the rest of Africa.

I feel so lazy here in Australia, yet so unworthy to go work in Africa.

I pray God heals me and moves me to his will!

How much can 1 man do?

A lot if that man is also the Son of God...

My mate Geoff posted a blog over on Reflections Of A Snook, here's just part of it.

The Apostle John writes these closing words: [of the Gospel of John]
"Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written." (21:25)

If you think about that verse for a few seconds, it'll blow you away so much I wouldn't even have to write anything. Have a read from a different translation: "Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the world could not contain the books that would be written."

We've got plenty of amazing historical docs about what Jesus did. But John says he did so MANY things that if they were all written down…

Granted, the world is 'bigger' now. But even in the known world for John, that's a fair chunk of the Middle East and Asia.

That's a lot of books.

Go Speed Racer Go!!!!

Just got home from seeing Speed Racer. As a kid the one cartoon I spent hours pretending to be a part of was Speed Racer. I had a Matchbox car that looked a little like the Mach 5 and that's all I needed, that toy traveled over beds, under them, through curtains and up and down couches as Speed and the Mach 5 filled all my childhood desires for speed and adventure.


So I guess you could say I was looking forward to the big screen adaptation. I gotta say they did a great job making the movie like the original cartoon series. The CGI world created is unlike anything I've seen at the cinemas before. The thing that amazed me most was how the real life actors made themselves look so much like the original cartoon characters, that side of it was what made the whole thing so enjoyable.

I don't know how many people will think Speed Racer was fantastic, but I did! I've read somewhere that this movie's for kids or old school fans of the show so I guess I fall into the later.

So much goes on (you can tell it's made by the makers of the Matrix), and sometimes it's like a sensory overload. In some ways I think the movie is made with car racing fans in mind because I think only those use to watching cars dash around a track, and different colours of teams merge together on TV or the track will be able to follow certain scenes in the movie. The car race scenes are very intense, and I loved it!

Cars have been a huge part of my life, mostly from the influence of my father, but some parts of this movie really sum up my passion.

The Racer family is passionate about their cars, it's their total lives... in the same way it's part of mine. Driving a car isn't just driving a car to me, it's an experience tied really closely to who I am. Rex tells Speed at the start of the movie to stop steering and start driving, to listen to what the car is telling him and that the Mach 5 isn't just a machine, it's something that can talk to him. Driving is a bit like that for me - maybe it's why I don't mind travelling so far to work and church - and though my Lancer is just a machine, it's a highly complex one, with so many moving parts which suddenly become an extension of my body when I put my hands on the wheel.

I learnt how to steer a car when I was 16, but sometime later I started 'driving', sometimes it does just feel like the car is listening as I drive it.

Speed Racer sure has ignited many passions with in me, the movie has captured many of the feelings I have for cars, I guess that's why I liked it so much!

Socially Hopeless

Truly I think I am... these days I find it so hard to fit into a group of people in a social setting. I can't just hang with one group, I find it infuriating that people can form little groups and totally ignore other little groups around them. It seems each little huddle is oblivious to each other.

But I am not...

I flit between groups, unable to join totally into conversations or activities cause I'm always aware there are either people missing out, or doing other things.

It means I always feel like I'm not exactly fitting in, I probably appear nice, and friendly to everyone there, but it still leaves me with a hollow and unfulfilled experience of community.

In most ways I think the problem is my own, I just can't seem to find a place to throw myself into - I'm the one left quiet not knowing what to say or do...

Is there social training available somewhere? I don't think I've only been like this, only the last few years... so I don't know what's gone wrong...

Div 4

Stepped it up and played in City North's Division 4 soccer team yesterday.

-We won.. 1-0 scoring in the last 30 seconds of the game.
-I sprained my left ankle (the good one) minutes before the game started, but played anyway
-I played so badly, just didn't read the ball or the play at all and could hardly run
-Good performance by a bunch of blokes who work well as a team... I just didn't feel much a part of it.

I'm very sore, with a blue swollen ankle today....

I Am Not Forgotten

I am not forgotten
I am not forgotten
I am not forgotten
God knows my name

I am not forgotten
I am not forgotten
I am not forgotten
God knows my name, he knows my name

Light over darkness
Strength over weakness
Joy over sadness
He knows my name

Father to the fatherless
Friend to the friendless
Hope for the hopeless
He knows my name

These are the words to one of the Watoto songs last night. I don't know about you, but I always feel really special when someone I've only met once or twice remembers my name. It's like they really cared enough about you to tuck that little piece of knowledge away in their mind so if they ever saw you again they'd know you name.

Now I'm terrible with names, I just can't seem to remember them, but I feel so ashamed of that that I usually stumble my way through the next conversation, covering I've forgotten. It seems such an insult to forget God's name.

That's the simple beauty of this song... God knows your name - out of all the people in the world he still knows YOUR name! You are not forgotten.

Then put it in the context of the children singing the song... orphans, helpless kids who have lost everything and in so many ways were forgotten by the world around them. But God didn't forget them, through Watoto he's reminded them that they are not forgotten and he cares for and loves them so much.

These children recognise that and in turn want to share it with us here in Australia. We live in affluence, with everything we could ever need and so much more - yet we still feel forgotten.

It took an orphan from Uganda to remind me of that simple truth. How can we look at Africans as backwards and people behind the times... we've gotten ahead of the times I think, and it's only through Jesus we can step out of it, stop, and wait on him. Just like God lifts Ugandans up to him.

We're so selfish in our Aussie lives (well I am), yet I'm (we're) not forgotten either.

God is Good

Jimmy - A Watoto Gem!

Let me introduce lil Jimmy to you - he was the first to tell his story the other night at the Watoto concert and it sure is an amazing one!

Jimmy's father died before he was born, and his mother passed away only weeks after he was born. Jimmy was then passed between family members, none of which could afford to look after their own children, let alone him. His needs were never met, he was always hungry and never had the medical attention he needed.

When he was only young Jimmy contracted measles, without proper medical treatment he became very sick. His carers didn't know what to do, and couldn't pay for a doctor. Jimmy's legs became deformed and he was hardly able to walk, at one medical clinic he went to he was also tested for HIV and his result was positive. With both his disabled legs, sickness from the measles and positive result for HIV he was told he would not live to grow up.

Then one day someone from Watoto came to Jimmy's village, they offered to care for him and he went to live in one of Watoto's Children's Villages. In the village he moved into a house (built by people from all over the world) with 7 other children, and a mother - a single lady (possibly widow), who would care for Jimmy the rest of his life.

He was taken to a proper clinic, with trained doctors - they treated him and his sickness went away... Jimmy found God - was introduced to Jesus by his mother and other people at Watoto.

Jimmy's legs are now perfectly healed - a marvel of modern medicine, or a miracle from God he didn't tell us, either way God used Watoto to heal that little man. They also tested him again for HIV, the result negative! It possibly was an incorrect initial diagnosis, but I'm not going to put God in a box, and totally believe Jesus touched that little boy.

Jimmy's story is remarkable, but not unlike many of the other 1700 children Watoto has rescued. The people of the Kampala Pentecostal Church who founded Watoto are truly saving lives and follow God's command to care for the orphan and the widow.

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

James 1:27 NIV

Watoto Childrens Choir - Uganda

The Watoto Children's Choir from Uganda performed at Whitehill last night. I'm a huge fan of the choir, and of the whole Watoto ministry

[Previous Blog Posts on the Choir and Watoto...
Watoto Childrens Choir (May 07)
International Outlook, Garry Skinner and Watoto]

As I said back in that International Outlook post, I've been working for Watoto since then, doing their computer work. I must admit I haven't done too much, just built a couple of laptops to send to Uganda and made sure the choir laptop will connect to the Internet all around Australia. But I hope the little I do does make a difference.

This year's choir was exceptional - the show was brilliant - but as usual it was the stories that touched me so much, and their overflowing joy and happiness. I think I'll spread this over a few posts as there were many stories from the night, so expect a few more Watoto and African flavoured posts as I work through the experiences of last night and the emotions and thoughts it produced.

Anyhow I took a lot of photos last night - see on my flickr account.

But I do just have to put some here below........ enjoy

Certain Location...

WEC Camps are coming up soon and we had the training night for leaders last night. It started off with a BBQ at WEC HQ in Clayfield.

It's been so long since I've been to that amazing old Queenslander at Clayfield... such a fine old house and even though the BBQ was down around the side I had to sneak away and just go have a look inside the main rooms of the house.

They're doing renovations to the place at the moment so inside was a bit of a mess but I just stood inside that great old lounge/theatre and memories from the past swept back. WEC Camp reunions, Missionary Cafes and Rally nights just filled my mind. Many Saturday nights of my late teens were spent in that room, listening to young people about to go on a mission trip, hearing tales of long years of service from WEC missionary or just joining with old friends from camp and having big long sing-a-longs.

It was a bit sad realising this wasn't happening any more (later that night I heard the plan is to start it again which is really exciting), but it also just felt like such a bit of my life long gone.

I love WEC House, there's a special part of me I've left there... and a certain feeling I get whenever I go back. I wandered from the lounge room back towards the front door and looked in on the bedroom I stayed in during my training for The Gambia... the room is now an office which took me by surprise as I remember it with a big old bed and huge chest-of-draws.

Is there a certain location that for you brings back old memories? Or maybe just leaves you with a quiet smile on your face - kind of like the one I had when I walked back outside and back to the BBQ feeling totally refreshed just by taking a walk in a special place...

Breaking the Drought

I've said very little about the AFL this year. It's quite obvious that the Bombers aren't having a great year, in fact it's probably one of the leanest years for a while.

However, I'm content in writing this year and possibly next year off as rebuilding - with Hird and Sheeds moving on and the new coach Knights bringing in so many young fellas it's legitimate to see a time of poorer play as the new team gels together, and get those all important game experiences under their belts.

But it is hard to sit through 8 straight losses, so for the Dons to get up against the West Coast Eagles last night was awesome.

Honestly there wasn't much 'great' footy going on and it was two teams scrapping it out, but I do think the Bombers played much better than the Wee-girls...

Matty Lloyd had a great game, only one goal, but his presence was felt and he lifted his team to play their best. His mark in the four quarter was just special! Have a look at those photos! What a grab!

Am flying down to Melbourne in July to watch Essendon play Brisbane, here's hoping we'll see another victory!

Good Photography

Oh did I mention the other day that I think this is one of the best photos I've ever taken?

Took a couple of runs to get the timing right, and even then I'm stoked at how clear it came out!



Also made this my DPS assignment for this week - topic just happens to be 'sharpness' and I think with the effort taken to get the shot and the sharpness of the actual dragster it fits well.

Just to describe the task at hand... this car travels from 0 to over 500 kmph in under 5 seconds. That's 0-100 in just over a second! This particular run was a 4.83second quater mile pass!!! Amazing machine.

I was down on the side of the track, using my 75-300mm lens trying to get a more straight on shot for the sharpness. The noise, and reaction you get when these things take off make it real hard to keep your composure to shoot. Actually I was virtually blown over as it went past me!

Underwhelmed

Sometimes I wonder if I really did 4 years of University to spend my days swapping people's printer toners...

Cause some days that's really all I feel I do. Surely people can swap their own toner cartidges, and I know my time is worth more elsewhere.

Is it a procedure problem, management problem, or is God just trying to teach me humility?

Confession is healing

I did something tonight I haven't done in a long time.

Openly confessed to people I care about that I haven't been doing a lot right lately.

Don't wanna go into it too much here, and those who got the letter know what I am fully on about - but I've come to realise that when you've done something you don't feel right about, confession is the only way to forgiveness, and that is the only way to healing.

So I also urge you, if there's something weighing heavy on your heart, the chances are God is pushing you to confess, so that he (and others) might forgive.

Just like he did to me!

:-)

WinterNats round up

It was a flipping fantastic weekend!


Just the racing alone made these Winter Nationals a thing to remember. It was the fastest and closest racing I've ever seen. The Top Doorslammers field had a qualifying time of 6.09 seconds, with 4 cars qualifying with sub 6sec runs! Victor Bray with a 6.11 didn't even qualify for the finals!!!!

Plus we saw Chris Judd in his Studebaker do a 5.90 pass making his Studie the world's fastest doorslammer!

The eliminations and finals were a little less fast, but still dramatic with cars loosing control and swinging into the other lanes... engines blowing and Ben Bray eventually won the final against Brett Stevens when both cars had problems but Ben managed to make it to the line first.

The Top Fuel was even more exciting, with a heap of 4 second passes... Four seconds to travel a quarter of a mile, can you believe it! The fastest qualifier was Steve Reed with a 4.56 (Australian Record) at 320mph (514.98kph!!!!!!!!!!!!). The passes were so fast and straight it was amazing to be standing on the track with the teams as each car flew down the line!

Pro Stock was another record breaking field, with some of the fastest qualifying times in history.

I loved being out on the track really amongst it all. That's what really made the whole event special - cause I also got to see how much a part of the team Dad and I have become.

We stand on the track - right at the start line with the guys who do the safety stuff. When some of the cars broke down one of the guys called out "You might be the chaplain but you can still come help push" so I spent the rest of the time actually helping with the maintenance of the track - which felt good cause sometimes I just wonder if I'm in the way.

Dad did the opening prayer during the official ceremony, just before the national anthem - it was excellent - the crowd all stood in silence and gave a big cheer at the end. It's great that we have the opportunity to pray in Jesus name right in the middle of such a huge event.

I've included a heap of photos throughout... here are some more, but there are even more on my flickr account (see the sidebar...)













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WinterNationals - Chaplaincy

This weekend is the Winter Nationals Competition at Willowbank Raceway. Dad and I will be out there all weekend working as the chaplains for the event.

The local Ipswich newspaper ran a story on Dad a few weeks ago, due to some scanning issues I'll post the article just as text and throw up the picture of Dad to go along with it.

It's good to serve in a place you really enjoy working :-)

Chaplain offers a helping hand


Charlie Sandham's behind-the-scenes work at motorsport meets plays a crucial role in the lives of competitors, crews and officials across South-East Queensland. Shannon perry spoke to the volunteer motorsport chaplain about life in the fast lane.
Charlie Sandham never misses a local major motorsport meet.

From drag racing at Wil­lowbank Raceway to the V8 Supercar Championship rounds and the Gold Coast Indy, Mr Sandham is always in the thick of the action.

It comes with his job as a motorsport chaplain.'

A love of cars and a chance opportunity four years ago sees Mr Sandham rubbing shoulders with motorsport royalty while offering a car­ing presence for competi­tors, crews and officials.

Mr Sandham, who juggles the volunteer work with a career as a planner for Tas­man
Aviation Enterprises, is preparing for the Winternationals in June and Indy in October. "There are three major parts to my role as chaplain. Firstly you have to be the God person, someone who people can come to for a chat," Mr Sandham said.

"Secondly, you're a carer for people who may want to talk about personal or fam­ily issues.

"Finally, and perhaps the most hardest part, is the role I play in the case of a fatality or major accident. I'm there to look after and support people including the family and crew."

Mr Sandham said the motorsport community was still reeling after the deaths of V8 Supercar driver Ashley Cooper, who died in a racing incident earlier this year, and Queensland drag racer Kenneth Smith, who died when his rail dragster crashed at Willow­bank Raceway in 2007.

"The motorsport com­munity is very tight knit, and a fatality hits home hard. When Peter Brock died the effects were felt Australia wide," he said.

"Every chaplain had peo­ple who were affected and needed support."

Despite the sometimes dif­ficult circumstances, Mr Sandham· said being a motorsport chaplain was a rewarding way to combine his love of cars with a passion for helping others.

"These events would be impossible to run without the volunteers," he said.

"It's a big responsibility, but it's great to be a part of."

It was good to get some coverage and recognition for the work that goes on out at Willowbank. Pray for us as we minister to this community this weekend.

Quote of the Week

Saw this on Pure Christianity and liked it enough to put here. It speaks true I feel.

"Two thousand years ago God started a revolt against the religion He started. So don't ever put it past God to cause a groundswell movement against churches and Christian institutions that bear His name. If He was willing to turn Judaism upside down, don't think for a moment our institutions are safe from a divine revolt. I am convinced that even now there are multitudes of followers of Jesus Christ who are sick and tired of the church playing games and playing down the call of God. My travels only confirm that the murmurings of revolution are everywhere. I am convinced that there is an uprising in the works and that no one less than God is behind it."
~Erwin McManus

A tad stiff and sore today...

I played my first game of soccer in 2 years yesterday. Almost 2 years ago to the day I torn the ligaments on my left ankle playing soccer for Whitehill (posts on it here, and here for those playing along at home!), it's been a real long recovery and I still don't think my ankle is as strong as it use to be.

The other issue I've had is that with the injury I've not been able to run or do too much, plus then after a while I just got lazy cause I hadn't been able to run for so long. The past few months I've been working really hard on my fitness and building the strength up in my right leg again - I've been jogging in my lunchtimes at work most days and trying to cycle a bit as well as the usual sit-ups ect... So physically I'm getting fit again so when someone mentioned that the Division 6 team for City North needed some fill in players yesterday I thought I'd give it a go.

Apart from loosing 9-2 I felt I played really well. I haven't even trained for soccer for those 2 years, but I found the old ball skills still remained and Div6 was a fairly slow paced game to come back into, so I found I had plenty of time to think about where I was kicking, and even try one or two passing and running through player moves.

I didn't pace myself too well at the start - I've been doing lots of jogging and long distance work, so to run out onto the soccer field and sprint for the first 5-10 minutes left me stuffed... Once I figured that out and paced it out a bit more I felt fine.

Overall I'm just stoked to have a game of soccer again, you don't realise how much you enjoy something until you're forced not to do it.

Legs are a bit tired and sore today though, but nothing too bad.

Karting Champ!

The men's ministry night for the City North Baptist blokes was great fun last night. We headed off to Archerfield Karts for a night of manly head to head racing.

I'm use to heading out karting with some blokes from Ipswich who are insanlly good at it, so without them around I was hoping for a good result in the final race.

I had a hiccup with one of the pace cars in practice... I was following a guy who was a tad faster than me, and he saw the pace car and I didn't... after some evasive action I spun and was sitting in the middle of the hairpin - just as Waz came round and forgot the back of his kart is wider than the front... his rear wheel drilled my kart and knocked me sideways hard - I have a nice big lump on my back today where I was slammed back into my seat.

I qualified 4th fastest (but hey I'm probably 10-20Kgs heavier than the faster blokes), and headed into the race quietly confident I could pass and then hold the lead.

I was in second place by the first corner and then spent the rest of the race swapping 1st and 2nd with young Josh Burstow. We had a great dual with him getting me out of the hairpin and me able to carry much more speed onto the straight for overtaking and sliding up under breaks to pass. The whole 15 laps were spent trying to pass and loose Josh, except I couldn't loose him and I'd end up having to chase and pass him again.

In the end though I was able to get a little gap, and then trying to hard Josh almost spun on the hairpin giving me a comfortable 1.5sec win!

For a 17 year old Josh showed a lot of maturity on the track... he didn't make any silly passing moves, and was really patient, knowing which part of the track he was faster and waiting to have a passing go there.

I really enjoyed it - the win was awesome :-) - but also I got to meet a group of the older men at the church whom I haven't really had any chance to get to know before... so all in all a fantastic night!

Meet Maria

Steven Curtis Chapman's 5 year old daughter Maria was killed in a tragic accident the other day (as I posted yesterday)

Only back in April did SCC post this video on his blog, giving an insight into the special heart of his little girl.

What a gorgeous little thing, and what has happened is so sad - looks like there will be many fond memories though.

Sad news ~ Steven Curtis Chapman

Terrible news coming from Tennessee today. I've been keeping up to date with Steven Curtis Chapman's blog these past months, so to hear tragic news in his family is really saddening - more so to following his family news these past months...

Singing star's son runs over daughter

The five-year-old daughter of American Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman has been struck and killed by a sport-utility vehicle driven by her brother.

Authorities in Tennessee say the girl, Maria, was hit in a driveway at the family home today south of Nashville and died later in hospital.

The Toyota Land Cruiser was driven by the girl's teenage brother, said Tennessee
Highway Patrol spokeswoman Laura McPherson.

McPherson says several members of the Chapman family witnessed the accident.
The brother apparently did not see the little girl, she said.

Chapman won his 50th Dove music award, the most of any artist in gospel music history, in 2006 for special event album of the year for the Chronicles of Narnia project.

He toured Australia in 2006.

McPherson said no charges were expected to be laid, "It looks like a tragic accident,'' she said...

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2008/05/22/1211182968194.html

Trevor - a little surprise

As with most people, I enjoy reading the daily comic strips each day in the paper. A couple I glance over since I don't find them too funny, but Trevor, Overboard and Garfield are the ones that make me giggle.

However I got a surprise the other day when I read the Trevor strip, simple, brillient and truthful. I don't know if the artist was meaning to put forward a Gospel message, but if he was or not I have a feeling this strip was God-inspired.

Completed the Walk through Middle Earth

Back in January I posted about starting reading through the Lord of the Rings trilogy again. Well I finished 'Return of the King' last night, completing my venture through Middle Earth.

I'm just in awe of the world J.R.R Tolken created, the history of Middle Earth that is in the back of the books, and the family trees just give such an amazing insight into the actual world where The Lord of the Rings is set.

I've enjoyed just pottering through the books, not reading them all in one go - but just when I've had some spare time... I've read other books during this time as well, but every now and then I'd pick up my 3-in-1 book and keep following Frodo's plight.

My favourite part of the book is at the end when the 4 Hobbits return to The Shire to find it over run by rough men. They didn't even put this in the movies, and I get the feeling Tolken rounded the whole story off perfectly with the 'scourging' of The Shire. It's like all the important stuff Frodo, Samwise, Merry and Pippin went through and accomplish was all melded together to save their own people right at the end.

The many Gospel links, and analogies to Christ and the end times just heighten the enjoyment of the story... and create some good thinking moments along the way.

It certainly is my favourite book series ever!

HOT!

Note to self: What not to do with your coffee.

This afternoon I stood up to hand something to a workmate over the partition, and as I sat back down I tipped over my coffee plunger... thinking only about my precious plunger I made a drastic effort to catch it before it smashed, only to tip hot coffee all over my lap and down my leg.

I'm a tad burnt on my waist, but luckily I was wearing jeans, not dress pants (casual Friday saves the day) so the coffee didn't make it through the denim to burn my leg.

I made a big mess though, the great bunch of guys I work with though made sure I was ok first, then helped me clean up - I ended up just coming home (happened around 3:30) cause I was so wet... and had some pretty sad looking stains on my brand new jeans...

Sponsor a Child

1016 Children sponsored today for Compassion Day 2008.

That's not quite the 1500 they were aiming at, but a fair effort none the less! That's another 1016 children who now have a great chance of surviving and making a life for themselves.

It was great to hear Az Hamilton on the radio all day today. The Nite Alive announcer put in a mammoth effort today on 96.5 doing segments throughout the day, plugging the great work of Compassion, and telling of the recent trip he took to Haiti.

I think I was even able to convince a mate at work to sponsor a child, he just couldn't decide which one out of the vast choice of cute little faces.

There's still an opportunity for you to sponsor a child if you haven't already. $44 a month is nothing for us these days, you won't even notice it coming off your direct debit! And it will change your life for the better... it's worth every dollar!

http://www.compassionday.com.au/

Compassion Day

Tomorrow is Compassion Day - 1 Day, 1500 Children sponsored with 42 Radio Stations involved.

The focus this year is Haiti where one child in 14 never reaches their first birthday and another one in five doesn't reach the age of four. There are few public schools, and not enough teachers. Only 2 per cent of Haitian children finish high school.

It just so happens that my sponsor child is from Haiti. Ernry is a dude! I love getting letters from him, I've been sponsoring him for 7 years now and really have watched him grow up.

I've never actually met the little guy but I love him! He's part of my life in a real significant way, and it really doesn't take much for me to be a life changing influence on his life. $44 a month is nothing within the lifestyle I live, yet it changes kids lives completely.

Honestly I put it to you today, if your living in Australia or the USA, and don't have a sponsor child, tell me your excuse! What is stopping you? Cause I really don't think many people can't put aside $44 a month to save a child.

And in all honestly, you'll get more out of it than if you spent that $44 on a meal with friends, a DVD or new coat, I love getting letters from Ernry, he writes about his life, and I seriously get to see how he is working to learn and improve his way of life - Ernry especially has a special spirit, instead of buying toys with the gift money I send for his birthday or Christmas he writes and tells me he's bought a goat, or a sheep - most recently he has bought a turkey... he's a little farmer, and his sheep has already had babies. My little guy is a thinker, and instead of buying a soccer ball or toy car he's out buying things that are going to help his family survive, and him to grow up strong and healthy.

I'm so proud :-)

Ernry

So I can't urge you enough, go to the Compassion Day website and sponsor a child tomorrow for Compassion Day and save a life!

Weekly Photography Assignment

Missed last week, but back at it this week...

"Wide Open" - Basically it refers to the size of the opening in your lens to let light pass through. The smaller the f-stop the larger the opening.

So with my EFS 18-55mm Lens the smallest setting is f/3.5 so here's my shot using that setting.

In the Moment.

Drumming tonight at City North... last song of the night was Happy Day (Tim Hughs - if you don't know this one, check it out, it's a great song of rejoicing!)

Coming out of the bridge there's a big build up back into the chorus. The fill I did in that build up tonight was awesome... I noticed as I finished and went back into the chorus... but the thing is, I have no idea what I did, how I did it and I know I'll never do it the same again. It just flowed out of me, it was just a response to the worship I was expressing through my drumming, it's how I've drummed all the time, more from feel than technique.

I know I'm playing well, when I'm worshipping God... I don't think I really want it any other way :-)

May Day BBQ

Some of the City North boys trekked out to Ipswich yesterday and we had a good time, eating meat and playing some soccer.

Tim took some photos that he put up on facebook, I thought I'd post a couple here.

I must admit I'm a bit of a whip on the barbie...

Then there was the after lunch soccer (just the 3 of us, 3x 1 player teams of half court, worked well)

Which lead to me kicking the ball over the fence.... :-P

I hate Lemsip!!!!

Had the flu all week... been downing Green Tea which I'm not a big fan of, but I find it helps the hammering in my head...

...and I tried Lemsip to help with my congestion and stuff..... urgh never again!!!!

It may have helped though.... I dunno...

I hate being sick!

iPodology II

Yesterday afternoon in the car on the way home, the trusty iPod did it again...

I live a simple life, I take a day at a time
I spend my mornings with God before I hit the grind
The subtleties of darkness never cease to amaze
As a physical world creates a spiritual haze

Blinded by distractions
Lost in matterless affairs
Reaching through the darkness
Trusting you will meet me there

Day by day, day by day
Day by day, day by day
Oh dear lord, three things I pray [one, two, three]
To see thee more clearly [day by day]
To love thee more dearly [day by day]
To follow thee more nearly [i got to take it]
Day by day

You sweep your feet down alley streets
Sometimes you creep, I never see you coming
Monday, man youre on my back
Like a knapsack strapped with my heavy burden

No, you cannot condemn me
I wont buy your bag of goods
Youve got nothing for me anyway
Thats why I pray

Day by day, day by day
Day by day, day by day
Oh dear lord, three things I pray [one, two, three]
To see thee more clearly [day by day]
To love thee more dearly [day by day]
To follow thee more nearly [i got to take it]
Day by day

Classic DC Talk...

The Ministry of Car and iPod

I think I've found the bonus of living in Ipswich and working in Brisbane? The drive home may be long and slow, but it gives me a good chance to just sit and listen to music all the way.

I can have the worst day imaginable but by the time I get home I feel much better because I've just spent the last 45minutes to and hour listening to some good Gospel Rock.

I think if I lived 5 minutes from work, I'd still be pissed off and holding a heap of grudges from my working day once I was home... but I find as I listen to the words of DC Talk, Newsboys, Casting Crowns, Third Day, PC3, Audio Adrenaline and more I find more of a perspective outside of my working life, and by the time I'm home those worrys have been left behind in a cloud of funky music and God inspired words.

Subtle

Love it when your in a meeting about stuff that's going wrong, and someone says "It's no one's fault really..." while looking straight at you showing for well they think it's your fault.

When truth be known it is closer to theirs, but their comment suddenly makes you look like the bum...

Sometimes crafty works so much better than truthful......

A Current Day Idea of Paul

Pastor Steward said this in his sermon last night, and I thought it was quite a good little quote.

"The conversion of Paul, in todays standards would be like Osama Bin Laden becoming a Christian and going to be a missionary in Saudi Arabia."

Kind of makes you see how huge Pauls conversion was, and how much God really can work in the life of someone.

Weekly Photography Assignment

Assignment: Angles

I used another shot from the drag racing last weekend. Apart from taking the photo on an angle, I think these old classic cars have such fine lines and angles - I so want one!!!!

Actually this 1951 Dodge was for sale, and it was very hard to keep walking without trying to do a bit of a deal - the lack of money was a motivating factor to keep walking though :-P